Rumors Abound For Apple’s Next-gen iPad

December 30, 2010

An industry insider with reliable connections has leaked information that Apple’s second-generation iPad will include a built-in USB port when it launches in 2011.

According to Apple Insider, on his official Twitter account this week, Eldar Murtazin shared the rumor that the new iPad will include a USB port. Murtazin is a well-respected insider for news in the mobile market, and serves as editor in chief of the Mobile Review blog.

“Talked with colleague which working with some [original design manufacturer] vendors connected with Apple,” he tweeted. “He is research guy. According to his sources, iPad2 will have USB port.”

If the rumor proves to be true, the addition could be a result of an agreement European device makers came to in 2009, with a deal that would ensure that a micro-USB port would serve as a charger for mobile gadgets. That would be a change for Apple, which relies on its 30-pin iPod connector for syncing and charging on many of its devices, including the iPhone and iPad.

The current iPad needs an adapter, sold separately, that will allow USB to connect to its 30-pin port on the bottom of the tablet PC. While the adapter is intended for importing photos from cameras, some have found it also works with USB audio and some keyboards.

Many rumors have surfaced about what features will be included in the second-generation iPad, as the Apple prepares to launch the device in the first quarter in 2011.

Rumors that have surfaced include:

*Apple will build a third model that will include a CDMA 3G radio for wireless connectivity on the go.

*The new iPad will feature a larger speaker with a metal grille on the back side of the device, allowing for a wider sound range.

*The touchscreen tablet will have a flat back, much like the latest iPod touch.

*The second-generation iPad will have a front and back-facing camera.

*It will be slimmer, lighter and have a better resolution display.

*The upcoming iPad will have a Dual-Core CPU.

*It will have a non-smudge screen & Gyroscope.

*Apple will release a 7-inch screen version of the iPad.

While many of the rumors lack real probability, one new feature that is likely to show up on the next iPad is the front and rear cameras, which would allow users of the device to engage in FaceTime video chat with owners of the iPhone 4, latest iPod touch, or Macs that also use FaceTime software.

The company is also allegedly employing a top-down approach to making FaceTime an industry standard.